Chances are, you see them on your way to class or as you head toward your office. The men and women of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Police Force (UMBPF) work hard to keep our campus safe. Their watchful eyes and quick thinking often lead to arrests. And that was the case recently when their dedicated service led to the arrests of two men in one day Feb. 8.

In the first incident, which occured around 8:20 a.m., Cpl. Thaddeus Baker saw a man in the 100 block of North Pine Street acting suspiciously near an EZ parking meter. Campus police have been noticing an increase in individuals obtaining EZ parking meter tickets by fraudulent means. Baker interviewed the man, who admitted to trying to use a stolen debit card to get an EZ parking ticket. The man provided Baker with a false name, but assisting Police Officer First Class Kelli Blackwell noticed a hospital bracelet around his wrist, and he was identified correctly.

As a warrants check was being conducted, the suspect tried to run away but was quickly caught and arrested.

In the second incident, which occurred around 4:40 p.m., UMBPF Officers Tia Marie Taylor and Tremell Jones, Security Officer Katarius Brown, and Sgt. Matthew Johnson responded to the 200 block of Arch Street to investigate a possible theft after it was reported a man was seen stealing a package from a FedEx dropoff box. When police caught up with the man not far away on West Lexington Street, they found a package with a dress inside, addressed to a female UMB employee who had placed the package in the FedEx dropoff box earlier that day. The dress, valued at more than $200, was returned to the employee. The suspect was placed under arrest and found to be wanted on two outstanding warrants from the Maryland Transit Administration.

The UMB community is grateful to the men and women who protect our campus and have our safety as their top priority. The next time you see an officer, share your gratitude and thank them for a job well done!